Vermicelli from wormwood

To achieve high yields, gardeners use various fertilizers. Among them are vermicompost and a liquid extract made from it called vermicay.

Organic supplements contain a large number of microorganisms, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, and growth hormones, which have a positive effect on plant health and increase fruiting. Vermicompost tea is easy to make at home using store-bought vermicompost or by preparing it in special worm bins.

What is vermicompost and its importance?

Biohumus – organic matter obtained through the vital activity of worms. In nature, these invertebrates actively process plant debris, fallen leaves, and fungi. The resulting waste, coprolites, enter the soil and are easily absorbed by plants.

Experts note that vermicompost is almost eight times more valuable than compost. Vermicompost improves soil structure and accelerates plant growth. Vermicompost promotes:

• increasing immunity;
• rapid adaptation of crops after transplantation;
• acceleration of fruiting;
• improving the taste of fruits;
• blocks the effects of nitrates.

The fertilizer doesn't accumulate in the soil, so it can be used every season. Furthermore, the valuable organic matter kills various soil-dwelling garden pests (mole crickets, wireworms).

To obtain organic fertilizer breed wormsThese are primarily red Californian worms, as well as the Prospector breed. The former are distinguished by their high productivity and long life cycle. However, since they were bred in warm California, they are demanding in terms of maintenance conditions, especially temperature.

The Staratel worm species was developed in Russia, making it more suitable for environments with fluctuating temperatures. These worms are easy to maintain, retreating deeper during cold periods until warmer weather sets in, and are undemanding in terms of food. Biohumus is used by gardeners in private plots, as well as on an industrial scale. A distinction is made between dry and liquid (vermichai) fertilizer.

Vermicompost fertilizer is available in the following forms:

• granules;
• pastes;
• extract (liquid form).

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Dry fertilizer is incorporated into the soil, observing the prescribed dosage. Each vegetable crop has its own dosage, just like berry bushes and fruit trees.

Vermicompost liquid is produced by mixing dry substrate with water. The typical ratio is one part fertilizer mixed in a bucket of water until completely dissolved. Vermicompost particles dissolve slowly, so the fertilizer is prepared several hours before use.

What is vermicompost tea made from biohumus?

A liquid fertilizer – vermicompost tea – boasts a high content of nutrients. Ingredients:

• vitamins of various groups;
• minerals;
• humates;
• sulfates;
• water-soluble elements;
• enzymes.

The tea is beneficial for the growth of garden and vegetable crops, flowers, and ornamental plants. It's available commercially in bottles, and gardeners can also prepare the fertilizer themselves by diluting the dry substrate in water.

Liquid organic fertilizer is a reliable aid for gardeners in the battle for a harvest. It helps:

• creating a favorable microclimate for the growth and development of plants;
• increasing crop yields;
• acceleration of harvest time;
• improving the taste of fruits and vegetables.

Foliar feeding with vermicompost tea accelerates photosynthesis, prevents fruit drop, and protects plants from pests. When applied to flowers, it improves plant growth and produces lush, vibrant blooms.

The benefits of using vermichai on vegetable and fruit crops (legumes, potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants) have been proven in practice. Its effectiveness has also been noted when used as a top dressing for lawns and golf courses.

How vermicelli is made

Making a tea-based fertilizer for gardening is easy. If you have dry fertilizer, dilute it with water in the right proportions. Alternatively, you can make worm tea using worms and a homemade vermicomposter. The benefits are twofold:

• receive vermicompost;
• vermichai is being prepared.

During warmer months, the vermicomposter is set up outdoors. To produce vermicompost and vermicelli year-round, a dedicated space is required. A basement, utility room, or storage room are all suitable.

How to make a vermicomposter yourself

For arrangement of a worm farm You'll need to purchase one or more colonies of worms (Staratel or Californian worms are suitable) and prepare a nutrient substrate. You'll also need plastic boxes or containers to fill with compost.

The following are used as containers:

• plastic cubes;
• small baths;
• boxes.

Three containers are stacked on top of each other, with holes drilled in the bottom of the top two. A faucet or a sealed hole for draining the liquid should be installed in the third.

The medium container is prepared for populating the worms:

• the bottom is covered with agrofibre that allows moisture to pass through;
• lay a layer of well-rotted compost;
• release worms into the container.

The entire structure is installed in a room where the temperature remains between 15ºC and 17ºC. After about a couple of days, a portion of food scraps is added to the worm box. The following are used for feeding:

• tea and coffee grounds;
• white cabbage leaves;
• banana and apple peels;
• peeling potatoes, carrots, beets;
• hay;
• bread crumb or crusts;
• sawdust.

Avoid adding citrus peels, meat scraps, onions, and garlic. Also avoid cooked food, which quickly rots. All scraps must be shredded, and the moisture content of the nutritious compost must be regularly monitored.

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Optimal substrate parameters for worms:

• lack of bright lighting (the worm bin is placed in semi-darkness);
• humidity 70-80%;
• temperature ranging from +15ºC to +27ºC.

Insufficient humidity and high temperatures can kill the worm population. Turn the compost periodically and water it with warm water. Tap water (even settled water) is not suitable for the worm farm, as it contains chlorine, which is harmful to worms. Use well water or water from a borehole.

Californian worms develop slowly and process waste poorly at low temperatures. Their best temperatures are 24ºC to 27ºC, while Starateli worms thrive at 15ºC to 20ºC.

After about two weeks, the feed is spread over the entire surface of the compost. A new portion is added only after the worms have processed the previous feed. Do not exceed the feed dosage, otherwise the worms will not be active.

The middle container will gradually fill, and when approximately 3-5 cm remains, stop feeding the invertebrates. They are kept on a starvation diet for several days, and then another portion of food is placed in the top container. The hungry invertebrates will gradually move up through the holes in the bottom to feed, and the contents of the middle container are used as vermicompost. It takes approximately 30-35 days for the middle container to fill.

The lower container is a liquid collection vessel. As the worms process waste, they excrete coprolites. This dark (almost black) liquid flows downwards, from where it is periodically collected through a tap or a special hole. This produces a concentrated vermicompost tea. It is poured into hermetically sealed bottles and stored in a dry, warm place.

Vermicay from biohumus: application

Gardeners use vermichai as a fertilizer, a preventative against infections, and a stimulant.

Usage:

1. For soaking seeds (dilute 1:20 in water). The soaking time varies for each crop: onions are soaked half an hour before planting, radish seeds for 10-12 hours, legumes for up to 5-6 hours, and melons for 24 hours.
2. When watering tomatoes, dilute the concentrate in water 50 times.
3. For foliar feeding of any plants in the garden and vegetable garden, dilute 1000 times.

Fertilize in the morning or late afternoon, as the fertilizer components are poorly absorbed by plants in hot weather. Use the diluted solution within 3-4 hours. Do not store it.

For maximum results, it's best not to apply fertilizer when temperatures drop below 14-15 degrees Celsius. Solanaceae plants are fed with virmichael during flowering and fruit set. In the garden, fertilizer is timed to coincide with bud formation and the end of flowering.

Foliar feeding is applied at least 2-3 times per season. To improve soil structure, tea is applied twice: at the beginning of the season and at the end of summer, after the harvest.

Approximate feeding schedule for tomatoes:

1. A week after transplanting the seedlings from their boxes and cups to their permanent location, prepare a 1:50 solution and pour a bucket of fertilizer per square meter of plantings;
2. During tomato ovary formation, use a 1:10 solution. Water at the roots. Vermicompost liquid promotes plant health and reduces the risk of ovary drop.
3. Spray tomatoes with diluted vermicelli once every 10-14 days. Prepare a fresh batch of the "drink" for each treatment, applying it to both sides of the leaves. Apply approximately two liters per 100 square meters of soil.
4. Watering is recommended when tomato growth slows (due to unfavorable conditions, cloudy weather, or cold weather). Spray the leaves or water between rows. This increases stress tolerance and disease resistance, and results in tastier, sweeter tomatoes.

Apply to the leaves using sprayers or garden sprinklers. Water into holes or furrows, being careful not to wash away the soil around the roots.

Fertilizing indoor plants with vermicompost is beneficial. To improve growth, enhance decorative qualities, and improve stress resistance, one application every 2-3 months is sufficient. Dilute half a glass of liquid concentrate in five liters of water and water the plants gently. The sediment from the bottom of the solution can also be used as fertilizer. When using vermicompost fertilizer indoors, gnats may appear, so be aware of this.

Storing vermicelli

If you have your own worm farm, you can produce concentrated vermicelli on a regular basis. It's not quite suitable for use as a fertilizer in its pure form, so it's bottled in airtight containers. It has a shelf life of up to two years. As needed, the concentrate can be diluted with water in the required proportions and used as a top dressing.

Aerobic bacteria contained in the liquid actively absorb oxygen. Some gardeners freeze excess prepared solution. However, this solution is of little benefit, so it is recommended to calculate the dose and dilute the required amount. It's easy to make vermicompost tea from vermicompost at home. Using this valuable fertilizer will increase crop yields, reduce the risk of plant diseases and pests, and improve the soil condition of your plot.